Straightening machine



Aug. 1, 1950 J. a. PICTON ETAL 2,517,343

STBAIGHTENING MACHINE Filed June 11, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS.

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TM: 1R- ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 1, 1950 STRAIGHTENING MACHINE John Burley Picton and Ernest Lambert Tinley, Wolverhampton, England, assignors to Joshua Bigwood & Son, Limited, Wolverhampton, England Application June 11, 1947, Serial No. 753,934 In Great Britain October 9, 1945 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires October 9, 1965 10 Claims.

This invention relates to straightening machines of the kind used for straightening rolled metal sections and other elements, and wherein the members to be straightened are passed between two groups of straightening rolls, usually arranged on parallel axes, the rolls of one group being staggered in relation to the rolls of the other group, and being so disposed that the work passing between the two groups is straightened thereby.

In connection with such machines, particularly when used for rolled metal sections, it is sometimes necessary to apply further pressure to the work horizontally. Further, in connection with such machines it is sometimes necessary to use a correcting roll to act upon the work as it leaves the straightening rolls for the purpose of aligning it with the line of the pass.

The object Of the present invention is to pro vide an improved construction.

According to the present invention, the machine is provided with a pair of pinch rolls for acting upon opposite sides of the work after the work has left the main straightening rolls, the

pinch rolls being arranged on spaced axes, which may be parallel and which are substantially at right angles to the axes of the straightening rolls, the pinch rolls being carried in a carriage, which is movably mounted upon a bed or track, and which can move transversely to the direction of the passso that the pinch rolls can be moved away when required, and a vertically adjustable correcting roll the axis of which is usually parallel to that of the straightening rolls, can be moved into the position normally occupied by the pinch rolls, so that the pinch rolls and the correcting .rolls can be employed alternatively.

The pinch rolls are preferably so mounted in a carriage that they can be adjusted together transversely to the direction of the pass in a horizontal plane, and also so that they can be adjusted individually transversely tothe direction of the pass, and means are provided whereby these rolls may be positively driven in any position of adjustment.

The adjustable correcting roll may be mounted in suitablebearings associated with the main body of they straightening machine, and means are provided for adjustingit in an up and down direction as desired, and it may also be mounted in a housing which can be adjustable upon a bed or guide associated with the body of the main straightening machine parallel to the direction of the pass.

This adjustable correcting ro1l .may occupy a position so that it can act upon the work as it leaves the main straightening rolls at a greater or less distance from the main straightening rolls, mainly for the purpose of ensuring that the work leaves the main straightening rolls in a horizontal direction.

The purpose of the pinch rolls is to effect a straightening or correction of the work in a plane at right angles to the straightening or correction applied to the main straightening rolls.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional view in side elevation showing the correcting roll and the carriage which supports the pinch rolls;

Figure 6 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Figure 5.

Figures 3 4 and 7 are drawn to a larger scale than the other figures.

In the construction illustrated the invention is shown applied .to a machine of the kind described in our co-pending application Serial No. 753,933, filed June 11, 1947 (now Patent No. 2,501,087) and comprising a bed Ill upon which are mounted two spaced housings ll, [2 which supports the two groups of parallel rolls l3, I4

the shafts I 5 of which are arranged horizontally.

The machine is provided with a gearbox l6 containing a number of parallel shafts driven from a power unit ll and conveying the drive to the shafts l5 by suitable means. The gearbox i6 is provided with an extension ill in which is a driven shaft l9 which is arranged parallel to the direction of the pass, and this shaft [9 at itsend is provided with a unit 20 of a detachable coupling.

At the delivery end of the machine suitably supported on 'a foundation 2| is a transverse;

girder 22 upon which is mounted a block 23 carrying one end of a frame 24, the opposite end 25 of which is supported on the foundation. The frame 24 provides two parallel rails 26, and also a pair of parallel rails 21 which are at right angles thereto. That part of the frame which incorporates the rails 21 is supported on a part of the foundation 2 l.

Slidably mounted on the rails 2% is a housing 28 upon which the correcting roll 29 is supported. The housing 28 is provided with edge portions which embrace the rails 26, and .on its upper side it is provided with a pair of spaced posts 30 each of which has a vertical slot, in which slot are slidably mounted bearing blocks 3! carrying a shaft" 33 of the correcting roll 29.

Each of the bearing blocks 3! is supported upon a threaded pillar t2 engaging a stationary nut 34 in the housing, so that when the nuts 34 are turned, the bearing blocks 3| are raised and lowered.

The nuts 35 are provided withgear teeth which are engaged by worms 35 upon a worm shaft 36 having a pulley 3? driven by a belt 38 on a pulley 39 mounted on a power shaft 4!} driven by a motor M, the motor M being mounted on and movable with the housing 28. V

Between the rails 26 the frame 24 is provided with a threaded shaft 42 supported in bearings at the ends of the frame and driven by a power unit. On its underside the carriage 28 is provided with 2. lug M in which is a stationary nut engaged by the thread of the shaft 42, so that the carriage can be moved along the rails 26 to adjust the position between the correcting r011 29 and the straightening rolls 6 3 and M.

Adjacent the position where the rails 26 intersect with the rails 2?, clearance openings 5 are provided so that the edge portions of the housin 28 can pass the rails 27, and similarly a carriage slidably mounted on the rails 21 can pass the rails 26.

The carriage 16 which is slidably mounted on the rails 27 carries the pinch rolls M, which are spaced apart and arranged to rotate on vertical axes, one on either side of the work 48.

The carriage 46 is provided with two spaced upwardly-projecting end members 49 in which are mounted sleeve nuts 59 and 'HJ. Each of these nuts is engaged by a threaded stem, one of the stems being shown at and the other at 52.

The carriage 46 is provided with upwardly-projecting side portions 53 which are integrally united to the end portions 59, and each of the portions 53 is provided with an angle-section guide 54 in which slide side flanges 55 of a block 56. The top of each block 55 is recessed, and in each of these recesses is secured a plate 51.

The side flanges 55 of the blocks 5% are prevented fromupward movement by the top plates 58 secured to the parts 49 and 53 of the carriage.

Each of the blocks 56 is provided with alug 59 in which is a bearing supporting a shaft 68 carrying a pinch roll, 4?, and at the upper ends the shafts 60 are mounted in bearings carried in .the plate 51.

Each of the blocks 55 can be adjusted individually towards and away from the other block 56 end portion 4% of the carriage, being at the left-.

hand end of the carriage in Figure 2, and on the outer side of the said end portion 49 is provided a gearwheel 6 engaging a gearwheel 65 mounted on a short shaft Gtwhich can rotate in the said end portion 49. The gearwheel 65 engages and drives a gearwheel 6'! which is mounted on the projecting end of the sleeve nut H1 and is adapted to rotate it when driven. Thegearwheel 61 is 4 H retained in position on the end of the sleeve nut it by lock nuts 68.

At the lower end of each of the shafts 60 is a gearwheel 59, and these gear-wheels are engaged and driven by gearwheels 'H' which are mounted on a key E2 on a shaft "F3 The shaft 1'3 is provided with bushes M which rotate in bearings mounted in lugs E5 on the blocks 56. The shaft 73 extends through a bearing in one of the end portions 49 and is provided with a gearwheel 16 which is engaged and driven by a gearwheel 11 on a cross-shaft iii mounted in bearings formed partly in the end of the carriage 4t and partly in a cap 79 which is secured thereto. One end of the shaft 178 is provided with a detachable coupling unit as which can be engaged with the coupling unit as so that the shaft 18 can be driven from the shaft it in the gearbox extension l8.

The'shaft 52 is provided with a head 8| engaging between a pad 82 in one of the blocks 56 and a plate 83 secured to the block so that when the shaft 52 is moved endwise the block is moved parallel to the shaft '53.

The shaft 5! is provided with a head 84 engagingbetween a pad 85 mounted in one of the blocks 56 and a plate 36 secured thereto, and between the, pad 85 and the end of a recess 81 in this block as is a spring 88 so that this block 56 can be resiliently pressed towards the other block 56. In this way provision is made for resilient pressure. of one pinch roll 41 towards the other.

The carriage 46 is provided with a lug 89 in which is housed a non-rotating nut 98. This nut is engaged b the thread on a shaft 9!, which is parallel to the track formed by the rails 27!. The shaft 9! is mounted in bearings 92, 93, at its ends provided in the frame 24. This shaft 9| may be driven by a power unit 94.

In operatiorrthe pinch rolls 4.1! can be brought into use by travelling the carriage 46 into the position shown inFigure 1, and the correcting roll 29 may be in operation at the same time. In some circumstances however it is necessary to adjust the correcting roll 29 at a greater distance from the straightening rolls l3, [4 than is shown in Figure 5, and when this becomes necessary thecarriage 46 is moved along the track formed by the rails 21 out of line with the pass, thus enabling the housing 23 to be moved along the track formed by the rails 26 to the desired position.

' Further, when the pinch rolls are in operation the housing 28 carrying the correcting roll can operate either in the positions shown in Figures 5 and 6, or it can be moved to the outer end of the track formed by the rails 25 with. both the pinch rolls and the correcting roll in operation. Thus, the pinch rolls and the correcting roll can be used alternatively, or they can be in operation at the same time.

What we claim then is:

1 In a straightening machine, of the kind used for straightening rolled metal'sections, in which sections to'be straightened are passed between two groups 'of straightening rolls, the rolls of one group being staggered in relation to the rolls of the other group and being so disposed that a section is straightened by a pass between the two groupsof rolls, the provision of a track transverse to the direction of the pass, a carriage slidable upon the track, a pair of pinch rolls supported in the carriage so as to be co-actable with opposite sides of a section passing through the machine,

and ine'ans' for moving the carriage along the track into operative and inoperative positionsa correcting roll having its axis parallel to the axes of the straightenin rolls, and a housing therefor, a second track parallel to the pass adjacent the delivery end of the machine, upon which track the housing is movable so that the correcting roll can be moved into the position normally occupied by the pinch rolls.

i 2. In a straightening machine of the kind used for straightening rolled metal sections, in which sections to be straightened are passed between two groups of straightening rolls, the rolls of one group being staggered in relation to the rolls of the other group and being so disposed that a section is straightened by a pass between the two groups of rolls, the provision of a track transverse to the direction of the pass, a carriage slidable upon the track, a pair of pinch rolls supported in the carriage so as to be co-actable with opposite sides of a section passing through the machine, and means for moving the carriage along ,the track into operative and inoperative positions, means for adjusting said pinch rolls individually transversel to the direction of the pass and for driving said pinch rolls at any position of adiustment, a correcting roll having its axis parallel to the axes of the straightening rolls, and a housing therefor, a second track parallel to the pass adjacent the delivery end of the machine, upon which track the housing is movable so that the correcting roll can be moved into the position normally occupied by the pinch rolls.

3. In a straightening machine of the kind used for straightening rolled metal sections, in which sections to be straightened are passed between two groups of straightening rolls, the rolls of one group being staggered in relation to the rolls of the other group and being so disposed that a section is straightened bya pass between the two groups of rolls, the provision of a track transverse to the direction of the pass adjacent the delivery end of the machine, a carriage slidable upon the track, a pair of blocks supported in said carriage, a pair of pinch rolls having their spindles carried in said blocks so as to be coactable with opposite sides of a section passing through the machine, and means for adjusting the blocks individually towards and away from each other, a correcting roll having its axis parallel to the axes of the straightening rolls, and a housing therefore, a second track parallel to the pass adjacent the delivery end of the machine, upon which track the housing is movable so that the correcting roll can be moved into the position normally occupied by the pinch rolls.

4. In a straightening machine of the kind used for straightening rolled metal sections, in which sections to be straightened are passed between two groups of straightening rolls, the rolls of one group being staggered in relation to the rolls of the other group and being so disposed that a section is straightened by a pass between the two groups of rolls, the provision of a track transverse to the direction of the pass, a carriage slidable upon the track, a pair of pinch rolls supported in the carriage so as to be co-actable with opposite sides of a section passing through the machine, and means for moving the carriage along the track into operative and inoperative positions, a second track adjacent the delivery end of the machine parallel to the pass, a housing mounted for movement along said second track and a correcting roll carried in said mounting with its axis parallel to the axes of the straightening rolls, and arranged so that it can be moved into the position normally occupied by the pinch rolls, means being provided whereby said correcting roll can be raised and lowered.

5. In a straightening machine of the kind used for straightening rolled metal sections, in which sections to be straightened are passed between two groups of straightening rolls, .the rolls of one group being staggered in relation to the rolls of the other group and being so disposed that a section is straightened by a pass between the,

movable in guides in said posts, a correcting roll having its spindle carried in said bearing blocks, means ,for adjusting said blocks in a vertical direction in the guides and means for moving said housing so that the correcting roll can be moved'into the position normally occupied by the pinch rolls.

, 6. In a straightening machine of the kind used for straightening rolled metal sections, in which sections to be straightened are passed between two groups of straightening rolls, the rolls of one group being staggered in relation to the rolls of the other group and being so disposed that a section is straightened by a pass between the two groups of rolls, the provision of a track transverse to the direction of the pass, a carriage slidable upon the track, a pair of pinch rolls supported in the carriage so asto be co-actab1e with opposite sides of a section passing through the machine, and means for moving the carriage along the track into operative and inoperative positions, a second track, a housing mounted for movement along said second track, said housing having a pair of spaced posts, each post having a vertical slot therein, a bearing block supported in each slot upon a threaded pillar, a stationary nut engaging each pillar and means for rotating said nuts to raise or lower the blocks, a correcting roll having its spindle carried in said blocks and means for, moving said housing so that the correcting roll can be moved into the position normally occupied by the pinch rolls.

7. In a straightening machine of the kind used for straightening rolled metal sections, in which sections to be straightened are passed between two groups of straightening rolls, the rolls of one group being staggered in relation to the rolls of the other group and being so disposed that a section is straightened by a pass between the two group of rolls, the provision of a track transverse to the direction of the pass, a carriage slidable upon the track, a pair of pinch rolls supported in the carriage so as to be co-actable with opposite sides of a section passing through the machine, and means for moving the carriage along the track into operative and inoperative positions, a second track, a housing mounted for movement along said second track, a correcting roll carried in said housing and having its axis parallel to the axes of the straightening rolls, means for adjusting said correcting roll in vertical direction, a threaded nut on the underside of said housing and a rotatable threaded shaft coacting with said nut, means for rotating said shaft to move the housing upon the second track so that the correcting roll can be moved 7 into the position normally occupied by the pinch rolls.

8. In a straightening machine of the kind used for straightening rolled metal sections, in which sections to be straightened are passed between two groups of straightening rolls, the rolls of one group being staggered in relation to the rolls of the other group and being so disposed that a section'is straightened by a pass between the two groups of rolls, the provision of a pair of rails transverse to the direction of the pass, a carriage sliclable upon said rails, a threaded nut on the underside of aid carriage and a rotatable threaded shaft parallel to said rails co-acting with said nut, means for rotating said shaft to move the carriage-upon the rails, a pair of pinch rolls supported in the carriage so as to be ccactable with opposite sides of a section passing through the machine, and a correcting roll having its axis parallel to the axes of the straighteningrolls, anda housing therefor, a second track parallel to the pass adjacent the delivery end of the-machine, upon which track the housing is imovable so that the correcting roll can be moved into the position normally occupied by the pinch rolls, means being provided whereby said correcting roll can be raised and lowered.

9. In a straightening machine of the kind used for straightening rolled metal sections, in which sections to be straightened are passed between two groups of straightening rolls, the rolls of one group being staggered in relation to the rolls of the other group and being so disposed that a section is straightened by a pass between the two groups :of rolls, the provision of a track transverse to the direction of the pass, a carriage slidable upon the track, a pair of blocks slidably supported in said carriage, a pair of pinch rolls having their spindles arranged vertically in said blocks and a gear wheel secured to each spindle, a shaft rotatably mounted in bearings in said carriage, a further gear wheel rotatablyi'mounted in each block and both said further gear Wheels being keyed to said shaft and slidable longitudinally thereon, said further gear wheels engaging and driving the gear wheels on thespindles, means for rotating said shaft, means for adjusting said blocks individually towards and away from each-other, and a correcting roll having its axis parallel to the axes of the straightening rolls, and a housing therefor, a second track parallel to the pass adjacent the delivery end of the machine, upon which track the housing is movable so that the correcting roll can be moved into the position normally occupied by thepinch rolls, means being provided whereby said correcting roll can be raised and lowered.

10. In a straightening machine of the kind used for straightening rolled metal sections, in which sections to be straightened are passed between two groups of straightening rolls, the rolls of one group being staggered in relation to the rolls of the other group and being so disposedthat a section is straightened by a pass between the two groups of rolls, the provision of a track transverse to the direction of the pass, a pair of blocks slidably supported in said carriage, a pair of pinch rolls one supported in each block, .so as to be co-actable with opposite sides of a section passing through the machine, and means for driving said pinch rolls, means for adjusting said blocks individually towards and away from each other, said adjusting means comprising for each block, a threaded nut on the carriage, a threaded shaft co-acting with said nut and a head on said shaft engaging theblock, spring means provided between the head portion of one shaft and its associated block providing resilience of one pinch roll, a correcting roll having its axis parallel to the axes of the straightening rolls, and a housing therefor, a second track parallel to the pass adjacent the delivery end of the machine, upon which track the housing is movable so that the correcting roll can be moved into the position normally occupied-by the pinch rolls, means being provided'whereby said correcting roll can be raised'and lowered.

JOHN BURLEY PICTON.

ERNEST LAMBERT TINLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this, patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 637,466 Jernberg Nov. 21, 1899 1,807,324 Petersen May 26, 1931 2,293,156 Mason Aug. 18, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 122,579 Great Britain Jan. 30, 1919 380,128 Germany Sept. 3, 1923 

